England recalls Mainoo, Maguire for pre-World Cup matches; TAA left out

Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo as well as Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Friday earned international recalls as Thomas Tuchel named a 35-man squad for pre-World Cup friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

Everton midfielder James Garner and Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele received their first England call-ups.

AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori and Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke were also brought in but there was no place for Trent Alexander-Arnold or Luke Shaw.

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is included even though he has not played since early February due to a hamstring injury.

"The reality of a March camp is that our players are in a crucial moment in the club football season," the England manager told a press conference. "They fight for titles, they fight a relegation battle, they are involved in knockout matches, in cup matches, so it is a crucial moment of the season, a very stressful moment of the season for them.

"But it is also our last camp, the last opportunity to impress, the last opportunity for players to compete for their ticket."

Experienced centre-back Maguire, 33, will have the chance to add to his 64 international appearances and Euro 2024 final starter Mainoo, 20, is included. 

The pair last played for their country in September 2024 but have been rewarded for United's recent good run of form which has taken them to third in the Premier League.

Shaw, 30, was another United player pushing to be involved but has once again been overlooked, with Tuchel instead calling up Newcastle's Lewis Hall for the first time since he took charge.

Tuchel has selected a larger squad than usual, with players reporting to camp in two stages across the window.

"We decided to divide it into basically two camps almost, so we bring players in that we haven't seen who haven't played so much to open up the picture and the competition for plane tickets to the US," he told the Football Association website. 

"Then from Friday and Saturday, a group of players will come into camp -- 10 or 11 players who get a rest before and we will then go with a new group and mix of players into the match against Japan."

England play Uruguay at Wembley on March 27 and host Japan on March 31.

Tuchel said the omission of former Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold, even in the absence of injured Chelsea right-back Reece James, was a "sporting decision" but stressed his World Cup hopes were not over.

"I know that it's a tough decision for Trent, as it is for I guess Ollie Watkins at the moment and for Luke Shaw," he said. "These tough decisions come with the job."

Tuchel was also asked about Arsenal teenager Max Dowman, who became the youngest scorer in Premier League history last week.

The England boss described the 16-year-old as a "fantastic talent" but said there was "no need to call him up now and increase the pressure and increase all the noise that comes with it."

The World Cup, taking place in Canada, Mexico and the United States, starts on June 11, with England among the favourites.

England squad

Goalkeepers

Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle), Jason Steele (Brighton)

Defenders

Dan Burn (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Djed Spence (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan/ITA)

Midfielders

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/ESP), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards

Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich/GER), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona/ESP), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham)